Dawes to replace Simons as India's bowling coach

Mumbai, Feb 14: BCCI to sack Team India's bowling coach Eric Simons as they are planning to replace him with former Queensland fast bowler Joe Dawes at the end of the tour of Australia, as the two-year contract expires at the end of this tour.

An official has reportedly told ESPN Cricinfo, a leading cricket website, that BCCI is planning to replace Joe Dawns as the bowling coach after Eric Simons' contract expires in March 2012.

Dawes has played 76 matches for Queensland between 1997-2005, was quite unfortunate as his career was cut short by a knee injury which brought him to coaching.

After his stint with Queensland, in June 2011 was appointed as a bowling coach for South Africa followed by a coaching assignment for Adelaide Strikers in Big Bash League 2011-12.

On the other hand, Eric Simons, associated with Team India since 2010 as a bowling consultant, was also named as coach of the IPL team Delhi Daredevils for the fifth edition of IPL. The South African all-rounder, was initially part of Gary Kirsten's coaching staff but remained with the squad after Kirsten denied to renew his contract with Team India after the World Cup.

During the Working Committee meeting on Monday, the officials discussed about Simons' contract that was due at the end of India's tour of Australia. The decision to sack him will be the first change India will be making after the diastrous tours to England and Australia especially in Tests, as they have registered two consecutive whitewash in a span of 10 months.